European Union leaders meeting Friday in Brussels hailed progress in reaching at least a partial deal on migration. But there appeared to be little breakthrough in two other key subjects: Brexit and reforming the eurozone financial union.

Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, the European Union’s two most influential leaders, met yesterday with their bitterly divided counterparts for a frustrating “mini-summit” in Brussels, while facing plunging popularity at home.

EU states that refuse to accept migrants should face financial penalties, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday, prompting a furious response from Rome on the eve of an emergency mini-summit in Brussels about the escalating crisis dividing Europe.

European Union leaders gather in Brussels on Sunday in an attempt to bridge their deep divisions over migration, an issue that has been splitting them for years and now poses a fresh threat to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On a visit to Belfast on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the historic accord, the Labour leader will urge the Northern Irish parties, as well as Westminster, Ireland and Brussels, to play their part.

The EU must increase pressure on Russia to change its behaviour in the many crises in which it is involved, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Brussels on April 13, ahead of Monday’s EU Foreign Affairs Council.

The most important surviving suspect in the 13 November 2015 attacks which killed 130 people in Paris is going on trial in Belgium over a shootout that led to his capture four months later in Brussels.

The last surviving suspect in the 2015 Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, has left prison in France to stand trial in Brussels on Monday over a shootout that led to his capture, a source close to the investigation said.

The last surviving suspect in the 2015 Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, has left prison in France to stand trial in Brussels on Monday over a shootout that led to his capture, a source close to the investigation said.